A Fleet List

The camera of A. E. Young cuaght BALTIC, an early Jones & Laughlin unit, in Little Rapids Cut during 1920.

The Jones and Laughlin Steel Corporation had been in business for some fifty years before becoming vessel owners in 1906 with the building of the B. F. JONES and JAMES LAUGHLIN. These ships were named in honour of the founding partners of the firm and would remain with its shipping operation until the cessation of activities forty-three years later. Ownership of the vessels was held by a subsidiary company, the Interstate Steamship Company, but the actual management of the fleet was in the hands of W. H. Becker, a prominent Cleveland vessel owner and operator. Upon Mr. Becker's death in 1920, Interstate assumed control of its own ships and appointed the well-known Capt. R. W. England as Marine Manager. He was succeeded in the 1940's by Paul L. Tietjen.

On May 24th, 1949, the Interstate Steamship Company was absorbed into the parent Jones and Laughlin Steel Corporation. "J. & L. " continued as vessel owners until November 15th, 1952, when they sold their remaining four steamers to the Wilson Transit Company, Cleveland. Since that time, their iron ore has been hauled by vessels of other American lake fleets.

Prior to 1921, Interstate ships were painted green with white forecastles and cabins. From 1921 to 1947, black hulls prevailed. In 1947, hulls were painted a dark green with "Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation" in bright yellow on the sides. In addition, the old funnel insignia of a white diamond with "J & L" on it gave way to a square insignia outlined in bright yellow with

J & L

STEEL

on it in bright yellow paint. When Interstate was absorbed into the parent company in 1949, the hulls once again became black.

A. G. BROWER (20), (b) SARGENT (22), (c) C. B. NIENABER (23), (d) S B. WAY (I) (31), (e) HOWARD P. EELLS JR. (34), (f) D. E. CALLENDER (II). (37), g) E. G. MATHIOTT (II). U.S. 107738. Steel bulk carrier built 1902 at Chicago Shipbuilding Co., Hull 51. 352.9' x 48.2' x 24.0'. Gross 3582, Net 2778. Built for the United States Transportation Co., Cleveland. Absorbed 1911 into the Great Lakes Steamship Co., Ltd., Cleveland. Sold December 22, 1915, to the Interstate Steamship Co. (J & L) and operated for Interstate through 1921. Sold November 26, 1921 to Wm. D. Becker and placed under the Becker Steamship Co, Cleveland, April 1, 1922. Transferred in 1922 to the Morrow Steamship Co. and operated by Cleveland-Cliffs. Transferred August 31, 1925, to the Valley Camp Steamship Co., Cleveland. Rebuilt 1927 as a scraper-type self-unloader at Sturgeon Bay, Wis., by the L. D. Smith Dock Co. Gross 3606, Net 3055. Transferred March 25, 1936 to the Columbia Transportation Co. (Oglebay Norton & Co.), Cleveland. Sold November 1960 to Marine Salvage Ltd., Port Colborne. Scrapped 1961 at Hamilton by the Steel Company of Canada Ltd.

W. W. BROWN (20), (b) BALTIC (22), (c) JOHN W. AILES (26), (d) HARRY T. EWIG. U.S. 81803. Steel bulk carrier built 1902 at Chicago by the Chicago Shipbuilding Co., Hull 52. 352.9' x 48.2' x 24.0'. Gross 3582, Net 2778. Built for the United States Transportation Co., Cleveland, and absorbed 1911 into the Great Lakes Steamship Co. Inc., Cleveland. Sold December 22, 1915, to the Interstate Steamship Co. (J & L) and operated for Interstate through 1920. Sold November 26, 1921, to Wm. D. Becker and placed in the Becker Steamship Co., Cleveland, April 1, 1922. Transferred in 1922 to the Valley Camp Steamship Co., Cleveland. Rebuilt 1926. Transferred 1935 to the Columbia Transportation Co. (Oglebay Norton & Co.), Cleveland. Converted to a craneship 1939. Gross 3562, Net 2963. Sold 1963 to the Roen Salvage Co., Sturgeon Bay, Wis., and resold to the Bultema Bock & Dredge Co. Sold 1964 to Asher Marine Rental Co. Deck cranes removed and cut into two 170' gravel barges. Both barges sank in a violent gale October 29, 1965, near Frankfort, Michigan, while in tow of tug ROY R. LOVE.

S.S. CURRY (20), (b) ELMORE (22), (c) P.W.SHERMAN, (d) E.G. MATHIOTT (l). U.S. 116558. Steel bulk carrier built 1893 at West Bay City by F. W. Wheeler & Co. 360.0' x 45.0' x 20.8'. Gross 3260, Net 2608. Wheelhouse set back of hatch No. 1 and boilers and engines carried amidships. Built for Henry A. Hawgood and operated by the Hawgood and Avery Transit Co., Cleveland. Rebuilt 1905 by American Shipbuilding Co., Cleveland, with pilothouse on forecastle and machinery aft. Also lengthened to 432.0'. Gross 3931, Net 2901. Sold December 18, 1915, for $165,000 to the Interstate Steamship Co. (J & L) and operated for Interstate through 1921. Sold 1922 to the Becker Steamship Co. (Wm. D. Becker), Cleveland, and transferred the same year to the Valley Camp Steamship Co., Cleveland. Scrapped 1934 at a Lake Erie port.

B.F. JONES (I), U.S. 202839. Steel bulk carrier built 1906 at Ecorse, Michigan, by the Great Lakes Engineering Works, Hull 15. 538.4' x 56.2' x 27.3'. Gross 6941, Net 5744. Launched December 31,1905. Built for the Interstate Steamship Co. (J & L). Absorbed into Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp. May 24, 1949. Sold November 15, 1952, to the Wilson Transit Co., Cleveland, While upbound light in the St. Mary's River on August 21, 1955, collided head-on in fog with CASON J. CALLAWAY above Lime Island. JONES declared constructive total loss and sold 1955 to the Fraser-Nelson Shipbuilding & Drydock Co., Superior, Wis. Pilothouse, hatches and hatchlifter placed on SPARKMAN D. FOSTER at Superior during winter 1955-56. Funnel placed on LYMAN C. SMITH. Hull scrapped except for small section converted to shipyard crane lighter S.S.C. -1.

WILLIS L. KING (53), (b) C.L.AUSTIN. U.S. 208397. Steel bulk carrier built 1911 at Ecorse, Michigan, by the Great Lakes Engineering Works, Hull 79. 588.3' x 58.2' x 33.2'. Gross 7802, Net 6497. Built for the Interstate Steamship Co. (J & L). On August 20, 1920, rammed and sank SUPERIOR CITY in fog on Lake Superior. SUPERIOR CITY sank with a loss of 29 lives. KING absorbed into Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp. May 24, 1949. Sold November 15, 1952, to the Wilson Transit Co., Cleveland. Transferred 1957 to the Wilson Marine Transit Co, Sold 1972 to the Kinsman Marine Transit Co., Cleveland. Still in service.

JAMES LAUGHLIN (65), (b) HELEN EVANS. U.S. 203056. Can. 306343. Steel bulk carrier built 190.6 at Ecorse, Michigan, by the Great lakes Engineering Works, Hull 16. 538.4' x 56.2' x 27.3'. Gross 6941, Net 5744. Built for the Interstate Steamship Co. (J & L). Absorbed into the Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp. May 24, 1949. Sold November 15, 1952, to the Wilson Transit Co., Cleveland, and transferred 1957 to the Wilson Marine Transit Co. Sold 1964 to the Hindman Transportation Co. Ltd., Owen Sound. Still in service.

P. P. MILLER (20), (b) COLLIER (22), (c) JOHN McCARTNEY KENNEDY (37), (d) R. E. MOODY. U.S. 200346. Steel bulk carrier built 1903 at Buffalo by the Buffalo Shipbuilding Co., Hull 205. 361.5' x 48.6' x 23.9'. Gross 3845, Net 2858. Built for the Miller Steamship Co. (J. E. Ball). Sold 1911 to O.G. and D.H. Donaldson, Buffalo. Sold 1915 to the Miller Steamship Co. (Brown & Co., Managers). Sold December 21, 1915, to the Interstate Steamship Co. (J & L) and operated for Interstate through 1920. Sold 1922 to the Becker Steamship Co. (Wm. D. Becker), Cleveland, and transferred the same year to the Valley Camp Steamship Co., Cleveland, Rebuilt as a scrapper-tunnel self-unloader 1926 at Sturgeon Bay, Wis., by the L. D. Smith Dock Co. Gross 3663, Net 3048. Absorbed March 25, 1936 into the Columbia Transportation Co. (Oglebay Norton & Co), Cleveland. Sold October 1958, to the Marine Iron & Shipbuilding Co., Duluth and arrived at Duluth under own steam November 12, 1958. Sold 1959 to the Fraser-Nelson Shipbuilding & Drydock Co. and scrapped at Superior, Wis., 1959-60.

WILLIAM C. MORELAND (16),(b) SIR TREVOR DAWSON (20),(c) CHARLES L. HUTCHINSON (II) (51), (d) GENE C. HUTCHINSON (63),(c) PARKDALE (II). U.S. 207851, U.S. 214499, Can. 316355. Steel bulk carrier built 1910 at Lorain by the American Shipbuilding Co., Hull 387. 580.0' x 58.0' x 32.0'. Launched July 27, 1910. Built for the Interstate Steamship Co. (J & L). While on only fifth trip, stranded October 18,1910, on Saw Tooth Reef, Lake Superior, Broke in three sections and abandoned to underwriters. Bow and midsection eventually slid into deep water and were lost but stern section floated August 8, 1911, by Capt. James Reid of Sarnia. Stern taken to Portage, Mich., September 1911 to Port Huron and Point Edward September 1912, to Ecorse September 1912, to Windsor November 1912, to Port Huron October 1913, Sold 1915 to Canada Steamship Lines Ltd., Montreal, and taken May 1916 to American Shipbuilding Co., Superior, Wis., where joined to a new bow section built there as Hull 524. Rebuilt to same dimensions as before. Gross 7215, Net 5505, Given new U.S. registry number. Entered service November 1916 for the American Interlake Co., a U. S. subsidiary of C.S.L. Sold December 23, 1920, to the Pioneer Steamship Co. (Hutchinson & Co., Manager), Cleveland. Sold 1962 to Redwood Enterprises Ltd. (Reoch) and registered in Hamilton, Bermuda. Transferred to Canadian registry (Hamilton, Ontario) 1967. Retired 1968. Sold to Marine Salvage Ltd., Port Colborne 1970, and resold to Spanish breakers. Cleared Quebec May 12, 1970 in tow, arriving at Cartagena, Spain, June 8, 1970. Subsequently scrapped. (For further information on this ship, see Ship of the Month No. 4, December 1969, Vol. II, No. 3).

THOMAS WALTERS (53), (b) FRANK R. DENTON. U.S, 208561. Steel bulk carrier built 1911, at Lorain by the American Shipbuilding Co., Hull 390. 580.0' x 58.2' x 27.7'. Gross 7763, Net 6l53. Built for the Interstate Steamship Co. (J & L) as a replacement for the lost WILLIAM C. MORELAND. Absorbed into the Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp., May 24, 1949. Sold November 15, 1952, to the Wilson Transit Co., Cleveland, and transferred 1957 to the Wilson Marine Transit Co. Sold 1972 to the Kinsman Marine Transit Co., Cleveland. Still in service.

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